Conner came home to an empty house—empty, that is, except for Bucket, who greeted him in an ecstasy of licks and wagging. He let the dog out long enough to do his business in the snow, then called him back inside.

The house was chilly. Conner opened the potbellied stove and laid a dry log on the glowing coals. Leaving the door open, he warmed his hands and waited for the wood to catch fire.

The chaste kiss he’d shared with Megan lingered like a pleasant buzz on his lips. He’d enjoyed kissing her—the softness of her lips and the slight hesitation that had melted into a murmuring response. He would do a better job of it next time, he vowed, with his arms molding her against him, his mouth plundering hers. To paraphrase Rhett Butler, Megan was a lady who needed to be kissed often, and by someone who knew how.

He hadn’t planned to have Megan find out about his crush on the raven-haired singer. But maybe it was just as well that the secret was out. Now they could be open and honest with each other. No secrets. No evasions. Just a mutual understanding between two intelligent adults—and a good time with no strings attached.

It had been too long since he’d enjoyed that kind of relationship. The ladies of Branding Iron tended to be marriage-minded. Last year, Ronda May Blackburn had schemed relentlessly to get him to the altar. Ronda May was a nice girl, and Conner hadn’t wanted to hurt her with a nasty breakup. But he’d been vastly relieved when she’d set her sights on an easier target. Now she was planning a spring wedding. He would be there to kiss the bride and wish her the best.

The log in the stove was beginning to burn. Flames licked at the splintered bark, radiating blessed heat into the room. Conner turned around to enjoy the heat on his backside. Travis wouldn’t be home for a while, he knew. He might even spend the night at Maggie’s and show up early for chores. Lucky man.

Bucket’s damp nose nuzzled his fingertips. He reached down and scratched the dog’s scruffy ears. “Looks like it’s going to be just you and me, old boy,” he murmured. “Just two old bachelors rattling around in an empty house.”

He was just beginning to realize how empty that house would seem.

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

By her third day at home, Megan had taken over all her father’s breakfast duties. She enjoyed making the meal special for her family. This morning she’d planned on waffles with blueberries and whipped cream, Daniel’s favorite.